Mayor Bevilacqua marks National Accessibility Week
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Vaughan
committed to creating opportunities for individuals of every ability
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement to recognize the beginning of National Accessibility Week:
“National Accessibility
Week is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of Canadians with
disabilities. In Vaughan, we are blessed to have many residents with a range of
abilities who are committed to the noble goal of creating a better and more
inclusive society for everyone.
“According to Statistics
Canada, an estimated one in five people aged 15 and over has one or more
disability. These individuals are our parents, siblings, neighbours and
friends. National Accessibility Week is an opportunity to acknowledge the
outstanding efforts of those who are proactive in ensuring every person has an
equal opportunity to engage in every aspect of society.
“The City of Vaughan is
deeply committed to advancing the values upon which National Accessibility Week
was created. Through the Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC), we
are working to ensure access for residents and visitors with disabilities. The
VAAC supports the City’s work in identifying and removing barriers toward an
inclusive city.
“Earlier this year,
Vaughan was the recipient of the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in
Accessibility. This award is named after Ontario's 28th Lieutenant Governor and
recognizes accessibility champions who raise awareness about the benefits of
inclusion and foster positive change in their communities.
“This speaks to our
mission of continuing to put citizens first through Service Excellence.
Safeguarding active, safe and diverse communities is one of the City’s key
strategic priorities for this current Term of Council.
“We remain committed to
promoting diversity, equality and inclusion through our support of the
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The goal of the AODA is to make Ontario
accessible by the year 2025 which means that every person with a disability
should have access to City services, programs and facilities available to the
general public.
“We continue to work with
all of our government and community partners to secure investments aimed at
ensuring even greater accessibility and opportunities for people with
disabilities in our schools, workplaces as well as our recreation facilities
which offer a number of programs dedicated to serving individuals with
disabilities.
“While we are proud of
our ongoing initiatives, we also know there is still much more work to be done.
“I remain committed to
working with Vaughan residents and Canadians across the country in reaffirming
our pledge to continue towards creating an inclusive and accessible community
for every person, of every ability.”
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